Body Confidence: Or, Debi finally gets angry enough to blog.

[innerbrat]

Behind the cut are photos of a 32 year old woman, a UK size 16, with a BMI of 28, right in the middle of the ‘overweight’ category according to the NHS calculator. I have put these pictures behind a cut because some people might not want to look at a body of those dimensions, but also because I am going to accompany these pictures with talk about

Comments

[skadi]

There are some really fabulous studies coming out that suggest being so-called over-weight* can be protective. I presented one in my residency's journal club because it's totally ridiculous how lots of medical establishment teaches BMI = totally-and-always-connected-to-health-no-really!

*worded such above because what does 'over-weight' even mean? Over what?

[innerbrat]

Yeah, the whole area is complicated and involves unpacking a lot - I even saw studies that didn't seem to account for age, and I'm pretty sure that people in their early twenties are lighter than people in their thirties and forties, and that's not the biggest factor in their health differences.

I just think that all the evidence seems to be so complicated and controversial, it becomes pretty clear that 'health' is really just being used as an excuse for body shaming.

[skadi]

Right. There's excellent evidence showing that overweight is protective for people entering the elderly age bracket. BMI is a horrible indicator of health.

I forgot to say this originally, by the way - great entry! It was really well written and I enjoyed reading.

[virginia_fell]

Yes! What a total asskicker of a journal entry. Thank you for this! I'll definitely be bookmarking it so that I'll have it next time I need it, because I am sure I will.

[marrog]

Nice one

[innerbrat]

You are awesome, which I'm sure you know, but just to reiterate.

This made me think about how we think of ourselves in terms of 'fitness' rather than (as well as) terms of 'fatness.'

Before a few years ago I wouldn't have been able to do what you do at the gym, exactly through lack of fitness. Now, when I'm treadmill running a couple of miles every couple of days, I occasionally remember how much of a struggle it used to be to run a mile. And you're right: many (most) people don't do the amount of physical activity either of us does, regardless of their body size, and couldn't just do it tomorrow.

The other week I was talking about derby with my metal friends and they said "you always were the sporty one," with made me completely re-evaluate my self image. I always thought I was a couch potato trying to do sports, but it turns out there is no try.

[crooked_halo]

Very very well-put. Thank you for this post. I'm quite honestly disgusted with the level of body shaming that's been normalized in society.